Liberal MP Dennis Jensen says the Federal Government's cuts to funding for scientific research is incoherent.

AAP Image: Alan Porritt

A Liberal MP has lashed out at what he says is his Government's "incoherent" decision to slash funding for scientific research while at the same time introducing a new fee to help fund medical research.

West Australian Liberal MP Dennis Jensen says he is also "troubled" by the Government's decision to raise taxes.

It comes as the CSIRO has identified where it will cut its research programs, as it grapples with more than $100 million in funding cuts announced in the budget.

Mr Jensen has warned cuts to research could see Australia forgo the next major scientific discovery, such as Wi-Fi, which was created by scientists at the CSIRO.

"On one hand, we are setting up a huge medical research fund to massively increase medical research," he said.

"How is this coherent policy when we have significant cuts to CSIRO, DSTO (Defence Science and Technology Organisation), ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation), the Australian Research Council and the Australian Institute of Marine Science," Dr Jensen said.

"I just think, quite frankly, it's incoherent. Unfortunately, I see no evidence to suggest an improvement in science policy. In fact the reverse would appear to be the case.

"Not only are we not putting in place policy to improve science but we are putting disincentives in place for people who might consider careers in the hard sciences and maths."

Dr Jensen says there "appears to be a lack of understanding" of how science works and what various areas of research actually yield.

"Many advances, including in the medical field, are not the result of directed research but arise out of more fundamental research that was not directed.

"X-rays, CT scans and radiotherapy for cancer came from fundamental physics - looking at atomic structure. Similarly, magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI - which was previously called nuclear magnetics resonance imaging - also came from fundamental physics. PET scans resulted from fundamental work on anti-matter," he said.

He says the Government should not dictate fields of research and expect specific outcomes.

Dr Jensen has also renewed his criticism of Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the abolition of a dedicated minister for science.

"I have been quiet on the lack of a science minister since I first criticised when the Ministry was first announced," he said.

"It is the first time we have had no science minister since 1931. I am bitterly disappointed that my fears have come to pass. This is a critical portfolio."

CSIRO to pull out of research areas amid $100m funding cut

Meanwhile, The World Today has seen an internal CSIRO document called the Annual Directions Statement showing the organisation is pulling out of some areas of research and severely cutting back others.

It reveals studies into radio astronomy, geo-thermals, liquid fuels and marine biology face some kind of cutback.

"We will not be able to compete with very many countries even in our region let alone the whole world," CSIRO staff association president Michael Borgas said.

"So the reduction in scientific capacity is at odds with what almost every other developed nation in the world is trying to do.

"In the energy sector there's a decision to close down liquid fuels research and people in that area are being informed. Other areas are to do with reducing science in radio astronomy, so trying to maintain the facilities but not being able to use them as much ourselves.

"There's been cutbacks in manufacturing in particular, where there are a whole range of programs and industry supports, meaning that the scientists have a very hard task in trying to bring on the next generation of Australian industries."

Dr Borgas says the biggest surprise is a plan to close the CSIRO's Griffith laboratory, which specialises in water and irrigation research.

The facility's website says the laboratory is older than the CSIRO itself, and exists to improve productivity and profitability for farmers and rural communities.

Paul Girdler, also from the CSIRO staff association, said that the organisation's discoveries make money for the Australian economy.

"The cuts to radio astronomy more broadly is somewhat mind-boggling, given that it was radio astronomy research that led to the discovery of Wi-Fi - something that's benefitted not just basically all Australians but indeed the whole world," he said.

"[It's] something which brought in $200 million in terms of royalties straight into the Australian coffers."